I thought about doing a tips post about juggling both your blogging and reading but realized I don’t have much to say about it because I’m literally the worst at it. So here we are having a discussion post instead! I was also thinking that maybe I could make a collection of replies and then use those in a sort of mass collaboration post of tips. Let me know what you think!

How do you make time for writing and posting blog posts?

I personally am always a mess when it comes to this because to make it easier on myself it requires a bit more planning and scheduling, which isn’t my strong suit in this case. I kind of fly by the seat of my pants most of the time as far as planning posts goes! I try and type up a post of some kind daily during the week when I have time and post it the same day as well, it’s rare that I get a chance on the weekends to do so. Sometimes if I’m REALLY good I will schedule some up ahead of time but I’m lazy and that usually never gets done.

Basically if I’m lazing around not doing anything I will try and type up a post, that’s how I make time. Or if I’m doing something else such as watching TV then I’ll put it aside to do up a blog post instead.

How do you post when you DON’T necessarily have time?

Mostly I say if you can’t make time at all don’t stress about it, blogging is supposed to be a fun hobby after all! However, something that can be a real savior when it comes to stuff like this is scheduling your posts up ahead of time. This is a very good way of keeping up with your blog, just type them up when you have a chance and don’t worry about it! Of course, as I mentioned I’m really terrible at this but the few times I’ve gotten around to doing it I found it to be very helpful!

How do you keep up with comments and other blogger’s posts?

Yet another thing that I tend to fail hard at. Normally I sit down and comment and read other posts all at once, but this is a harder way of doing it. It ends up being a lot more work than it should, I SHOULD comment and read posts immediately. But I don’t. I think one of the easiest ways to do this is to have your blog provider’s app (WordPress in my case) on your phone and just comment/read whenever you have a few minutes throughout the day.

How do you make time for reading books?

We all know how hard it can be to balance blog posts AND reading equally! I, probably like the rest of you, always ensure that I have a book with me when I go places because you never know when you’ll get a chance to pull it out and read. If you have an appointment somewhere, read while you wait! If you take public transportation to work or other places, read while you ride! I find this to be one of the most helpful ways to get extra reading time in, plus I read when I get home of course.

37 thoughts on “Discussion Post: Juggling Blogging & Reading”

I love this post! I am the same way I try to schedule post but most of the time I forget or I end up switching everything around, so most of the time it defeats the purpose. Making time is hard for me because I have a 2 year running around all day long and I rarely get time to sit down long enough to focus. I am a slow reader so I read when she naps or at bedtime.
I usually can read other’s post when she is concentrated on Mickey Mouse.
Great Post ❤

Glad it isn’t just me as far as the scheduling goes, haha, I definitely end up wanting to switch things up if I try to plan too far ahead.
Finding time for both blogging and reading is hard but the best we can all do is like you said, grab the time when we get the chance.
Thanks for joining the discussion! 🙂

You nailed exactly how I handle blogging vs reading. I plan my posts on a calendar, then write them ahead of time and schedule them to release at a specific time. I put the app on my phone, but I only really use it to respond to comments. I visit blogs in the evenings (though it’s been harder lately) then when I’m finished I go in and try to complete at least 1 or 2 blog posts each night.

Then, I always have my book on me so I can read in the car (when my husband is driving), breaks and lunch at work, and then for about an hour or so in bed after I go lay down.

You’re like a super blogger! I try and take my own advice but I usually end up switching all of my planning all around so usually I’m a mess, haha. Yes I usually use the WordPress app for comments because it’s a lot easier I find.
And yes to reading during lunch, breaks, riding in the car, and in bed! Those are the best times to catch some extra reading time! 🙂

Love this! I also fly by the seat of my pants when it comes to blog posts but today (on my day off work) I sat down and did some posts for December and the first week of January as I know I will be so busy in that period. I’m so smug about it that it’s hurting me 😂😂

When I get home from work each night I sit and look through the posts here and comment etc and then once my son is in bed I have a few hours to read. I cherish those hours!!! 😁

Glad I’m not the only one flying by the seat of my pants with blogging, haha! That’s awesome that you have some posts scheduled up that far ahead of time I would definitely be feeling smug as well! I’m just a terrible procrastinator and always tell myself “I’ll do it later”, haha!

After work and around bed time are pretty much the best times to catch up on everything I find as well! 🙂

I keep a journal and dates. So far have stuck to 3 reviews a minimum per week. I find keeping a head of myself helps a lot. Everyday I set myself a reading goal. Once I finish a book, I straight away write a review while the story is still on my brain. Plan and attack 😛

That’s awesome, you’re a super blogger! I bet it does help a lot to keep ahead of yourself you seem very organized, I’m too much of a procrastinator to get too far ahead of myself but I just accept it, haha!
🙂

That’s a good way to do it! I try and review right away but sometimes they just slip away from me.
Hopefully Uni will allow you to have a little time every now and then, you just have to seize the time you get! Thanks for joining the discussion too! 🙂

I think that it would be a really cool idea to collect the replies into a masterpost with helpful tips, like you suggested, it surely would help others struggling with the issue 🙂

Personally, I always have a blogging schedule, so I know when and what I post. I am a huge planner so for me this is important, but it might not work for anybody. What I do is that I print out a blank calendar for the month in question and fill it in with what I want to do when. That helps me not panic and instead know what I want to write! 🙂

I try to schedule my posts as well, especially if I don’t have lots of time. I just sit down at one point and write 1 or 2 posts that have to go up the earliest. It helps me to dedicate time to just write the posts or prepare a few other ones (making pictures, outlining what I want to say), so I only have to write the text.

When it comes to replying to comments, reading other blogs and commenting on them, I have lately fallen a bit behind, because of NaNoWriMo. But what I did was to again, sit down and answer all comments, as well as read some other blogs. So you could say that I dedicate some set time to writing posts or answering comments, if I have to.

When it comes to my reading, it’s actually working out great, as I have a set time preference when I always read. I am an evening reader, so I read every evening, carving out a few hours if I can and it works out, because at the end of the day is when I am most motivated to read! 🙂

I’m thinking I will more than likely do up a post of tips! So far everyone has kind of said similar things so I’ll have to do some digging through the rest but I’m glad you like the idea!

Staying on top of your schedule like that helps out a TON I’m sure, I’m a terrible procrastinator so I’m jealous of your awesome planning skills! I do try and write down what I want to do each week but printing out a blank calendar page is a very helpful idea I will have to keep that in mind!

I have to set separate times for writing posts and commenting as well, it really starts to stack up over time so I think it’s easier to do it that way as well. I agree!

And I’m the same way with reading time, the evening is when I do the most reading and when I WANT to read as well!

Thank you so much for your comment too, I’ll definitely be keeping a lot of this in mind especially for that tip post I want to do! 🙂

I’m getting so bad at keeping up with everything these days. I used to have a month’s worth of reviews and blog posts all ready to go, but now I don’t… I guess I’m not reading as fast as I was. But now I still try to post reviews on the days I’ve set out to post them, like the review I’m planning for next Monday… I haven’t even finished the book yet (but I hope to finish it tonight… you can see how strung thin I am for content 😛 ). Maybe this is a sign that I should take a break 😛

You’re definitely not alone Meghan! I feel like sometimes I really struggle to find time to do everything blog related. But at least you still plan out your posts, I’m literally just flying by the seat of my pants all the time with posts, haha!
And breaks are needed sometimes, I hope you will take one if you feel that you need one because we are always here waiting! 🙂

Aw you’re too kind! 🙂 I’m planning to take some “time off” at Christmas because who’s really going to be blogging at Christmas? 😛
Haha, but hey if flying by the seat of your pants works for you, then do it! I could never do it! I’m too strict in schedules to try and be spontaneous! 😛

Great choice for a discussion because this is something I struggle with so much and it is nice to know i’m not the only one. I suck at replying to comments sometimes, it usually takes me max 5 days to get round to them and I always feel so bad but sometimes life gets in the way doesn’t it and the extra time I have, sometimes I decide to read instead. Scheduling posts has been a life saver for me, I try to schedule a bunch of posts when I have a night free so I know that the next week I can focus back on uni work etc but usually it means I have a few posts go up consistently then I drop off again because the clock ran away from me and it was time to go to bed again.

Thank you Hannah! It really is always good to know you’re not alone especially with blog struggles!
I really suck at replying to comments (here I am a week later, haha!) I always feel bad too but I think everyone understands! It actually is very time consuming to get through comments! I also pick and choose what I do with my extra time and like you said sometimes I’ll choose to read or do something else with the time I have. That’s just the way life goes sometimes!
Scheduling definitely is a great way to do it, use the time you have and then you’re set for a while! I really need to get better at that myself since I am terrible at planning what posts to do!

I’ve been sat here thinking gosh I’ve not replied to comments in a week and just started feeling down when I read this reply. You’ve made me feel better instantly, I’m not the only one today struggling with comments 😫❤️

Oh boy, it’s so hard! First I try to read for about an hour and a half at night before I go to bed. Then sometimes at lunch. This helps me read about three books a week. I also listen to an audiobook, although lately I’m listening to a few series as a re-read which I am totally enjoying but am not writing about. I save up my blog writing for the weekend when I usually write four or five and schedule them out ahead. I’m about six weeks out on posts which is good in case I have a slow reading week. While I watch TV at night is when I read other blog posts and comment although my commenting is not very fruitful. I could do it a LOT more. I love this blogging world so I really do try to keep up! Great post! It made me think!

Yes lunch breaks and right before bed are perfect times to catch up on reading!
Scheduling posts ahead and writing them when you can catch the time to is a great way to stay on top of things! I envy your organization, haha, I’m terrible at finding time to write up more than 1 post! I could definitely do a lot more reading and commenting on blogs as well but it’s hard to juggle everything at once!
Thank you and thank you for joining in on the discussion! 🙂

This is something I struggle with constantly. I’m really bad at managing my time and sticking to a schedule, haha. It just seems like a never ending cycle of more blogging = not enough time to read but you need to read to blog and more reading = not enough time to blog 😂

SAME! I Feel you! I’m also really terrible at managing my time and usually I’m choosing between commenting, writing posts, and reading. And I never split the time equally either. Oh my gosh yasss to that never ending cycle because that is exactly what it is too! That’s why balancing everything gets so stressful sometimes! 🙂

A couple of weeks ago, I had a day when I just sat down at my computer and wrote a stack of posts. I know some of them won’t be the best I’ve written but it felt good to finally get some done and schedule them in advance. I think it is the most organised I’ve been in terms of my blog because I’ve got some already scheduled for January. I think now I’ve recovered from my slump, I feel more proactive about it. Plus, with only posting three days a week, I can spread it out.

In terms of keeping up with reading, I try to read a couple of chapters before bed. I’ve also started using public transport more to get to and from my grandparent’s house during the week so that 20 minutes is great for reading or even listening to an audiobook.

That’s awesome, I bet it does feel pretty dang good to have them scheduled up that far ahead of time! I have a hard enough time thinking of content for posts, haha, let alone getting them written up and scheduled!
Right before bed and travel time is definitely a great time to catch up on some reading! 🙂

It does feel good, although I’ve looked back over some of the posts I’d scheduled and criticised their quality when I’d originally thought they were fine. Now I have scheduled quite far in advance, I can write others and work on trying to post something of decent quality, because I do spend a lot of time on it.

awesome post heather! 🙂 i’m gonna try to answer:
How do you manage your time with blog posts?
i usually do everything during the week. if there is some time left, i schedule things for the weekend. i don’t blog on the weekend, because that’s my “work free” time, where i do most my reading.

Do you try and schedule posts up ahead of time?
if i have time, yes. if not, i don’t and then it’s also no problem for me not to have a post coming up. this is my hobby and it shouldn’t stress me out. if it works out, there are posts, if not, there are not.

How do you make time to comment and read other blogger’s posts?
i always do it during breaks, or when i am on the go or just want to relax a bit. if i have busy day, i try to catch up, but mostly i don’t have that much time, so i don’t comment on everything.

What do you do to make time for reading?
my reading time is so precious! i mostly don’t blog at all, when i come home. that’s my reading time, so i don’t spend it with blogging. i just catch up on stuff.

I’m the same way with writing up posts, I do it during the week and same the weekend for other things including reading!
I also rarely schedule posts and like you said if we have time do it if we don’t then don’t stress about it. That’s a great way to think, it IS a hobby and we shouldn’t stress out about it!
I also comment on other posts when I can but that’s where I could use more improvement, I find blogging and reading alone are a struggle to balance.
I normally read when I get home from work as well, reading time definitely is precious and I like to use every minute I can scrape together! 🙂